Algarve Pro Racing and Manthey Racing have been awarded invitations to the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours in June after securing the LMP2 and GT class titles, respectively, this evening in the Asian Le Mans Series 2024/25 season finale in Yas Marina.
APR has earned an invitation to compete in the LMP2 category after Michael Jensen, Valerio Rinicella, and Malthe Jakobsen’s run from first-lap contact and a spin to finish fourth in tonight’s 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi. The #25 APR ORECA 07 clinched the LMP2 title by 21 points over RD Limited.
It will be the Portuguese team’s tenth consecutive Le Mans start, as they’ll look to add to their LMP2 Pro-Am wins in 2022 and 2023.
Meanwhile, by winning the race and the GT title after a rollercoaster season, Manthey is set to add to Porsche’s attack at La Sarthe after its #10 Porsche 911 GT3 R of Antares Au, Joel Sturm, and Klaus Bachler were crowned champions under the floodlights in the UAE.
This makes at least three Le Mans entries for the German super team that won the inaugural LMGT3 class at last year’s Grand Prix d’Endurance, the fifth Le Mans class win in team history. Manthey will also bring its two FIA World Endurance Championship full-season entries: Iron Dames, and Manthey 1st Phorm.
These are the final two invitations to be awarded by the ACO for the 2025 race. APR and Manthey join the following teams and drivers who earned the right to take up spots on the grid in the ELMS, GT World Challenge and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship:
- AO by TF, 2024 European Le Mans Series Champion (invitation to compete in LMP2)
- Inter Europol Competition, 2024 European Le Mans Series runner-up (invitation to compete in LMP2)
- AF Corse, 2024 European Le Mans Series Pro/Am Champion (invitation to compete in LMP2)
- RLR M Sport, 2024 European Le Mans Series Champion (invitation to compete in LMP2)
- Iron Lynx, 2024 European Le Mans Series LMGT3 Champion (invitation to compete in LMGT3)
- Porsche Penske Motorsport, 2024 IMSA GTP Champion (invitation to compete in Hypercar)
- Nick Boulle (Inter Europol by PR1 Mathiasen Motorsport), 2024 IMSA LMP2 Co-Champion, winner of the Jim Trueman trophy (invitation to compete in LMP2)
- Orey Fidani (AWA), 2024 IMSA GTD top Bronze driver and winner of the Bob Akin trophy (invitation to compete in LMGT3)
- Sky Tempesta Racing, GT World Challenge Europe Bronze Cup Champion, (invitation to compete in LMGT3)
More to follow!
Images © Asian Le mans Series
